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(The Center Square) – In 2018, Michigan voters were fed up with in-power politicians drawing their own districts to protect incumbents. As a result, 61% of voters in the state approved a ballot proposal that established an independent citizen’s redistricting committee (MICRC).

But as new problems emerge, critics want answers.

Michigan voters passed the proposal with the understanding the MICRC would be a separate, independent body so no one could claim the Secretary of State or another politician controlled it. The state created a 13-member commission of four Democrats, four Republicans, and five independents. A majority of seven members – including two Democrats, two Republicans, and two independents – must agree to submit a proposed redistricting map that would be in effect until the next census in 2030.

However, at least two commission members claiming to be “independents” are Democrats, the Washington Free Beacon reported. The first, Anthony Eid, applied for the commission as an independent, stating that he does not "affiliate with either the Republican or Democratic Party." The publication's review of his social media presence shows Eid has supported members of the Democratic Party but not Republicans. He wrote he was "proud to live in a state that voted for Bernie Sanders in the primary" in 2016.

Additionally, Gongwer reported on Eid’s tweets that included rape jokes and derogatory comments about women.

A second commission member, Rebecca Szetela, applied as an independent but has contributed at least $225 to EMILY's List, Democratic politicians, and in May addressed the Progressive Democratic Women's Caucus of Muskegon County, the Beacon reported...